Zaire speaking at a podium with microphones, wearing a '91001' shirt, with community members behind him
Zaire speaking at a podium with microphones, wearing a '91001' shirt, with community members behind him

Dear Edison: Keep Eaton Fire Families Housed

A historic civic coalition is calling on Edison to front urgent housing relief — an advance, not new money — so families can stay housed until they can get back home.

Join the Coalition for Urgent Housing Relief
Read the Urgent Housing Proposal

Nearly one year after the Eaton Fire, 80% of our families are still displaced and running out of housing coverage.

We are not asking Edison to pay more. We’re asking Edison to pay sooner

If you only do one thing today: join the coalition. It takes 30 seconds and helps keep families housed.

This press conference moved hardened journalists to tears. You’ll meet a survivors living in his car, and a couple who built their home with their own hands for their grandchildren — only to see it burned down.

Warning: these stories may break your heart. They’ll also remind you what courage looks like.

Watch the Press Conference →

Wide shot of a press conference with multiple news camera crews filming a large group of EFSN members and community advocates

Breaking News: Civic Coalition Demands Urgent Housing Relief

Damon and Audra Blount speaking at a podium with press microphones including CBS LA
Bishop Dorsey speaking at a podium with press microphones including CBS LA, hands raised, community members behind him

“When a company’s fire destroys or contaminates homes, that company has a responsibility to keep families housed until they can get back home.”

— Los Angeles Times

Sasha Perez speaking at a podium with press microphones, holding a folder, surrounded by community members

Los Angeles Times · FOX News · CBS News · ABC News · NBC News · Hey SoCal · LAist · Pasadena Star-News · San Gabriel Valley Tribune · Pasadena Now

Read the Coalition Press Release

Recovery Has Stalled. Not Because Families Stopped Fighting, but Because Cash Flow Ran Out.

According to Department of Angels research:

  • 80% of Eaton Fire families remain displaced

  • 61% will lose housing coverage within months

  • Rebuilding timelines extend years beyond the end of insurance housing coverage

This mismatch has created a cash-flow gap that families cannot bridge.

As a result, survivors have drained retirement savings, maxed out credit cards, and are taking on crushing debt just to keep a roof overhead while recovery takes time.

Families are running out of housing funds before they can get back home.

Join the Coalition for Urgent Housing Relief
Rossana wearing a red 'Don't Mess With Fire Survivors' t-shirt, standing outdoors
Man speaking at a podium with ABC7 microphones, surrounded by community members in front of a colorful mural
Man speaking at a podium with ABC7 microphones, surrounded by community members in front of a colorful mural

Edison has been financially secured. Families have not.

After the fire, the state stepped in to protect Edison’s finances. In October, regulators approved $1 billion per year in new rate hikes, plus $1 billion in retroactive payments. That same month, state leaders finalized a deal shifting wildfire financial risk off utilities and onto the public.

The Los Angeles Times called it “effectively a bailout.”

Under this system, Edison does not pay a single dollar of Eaton Fire costs above the California Wildfire Fund. Those costs are borne entirely by us, the ratepayers.

As a result of these two decisions, Edison reported third-quarter profits 61% higher than a year earlier, far surpassing Wall Street expectations. Those profits were funded by the same ratepayers who are now struggling to stay housed after the fire Edison caused.

So let’s be clear:
Edison is financially insulated and enriched.
Families are not.

We are not asking Edison to pay a single dollar more.
We are not asking for new money.

Soaring Profits. Families at Risk.

We are simply asking Edison to front the money now, using the protections already in place, to cover the cash-flow gap so families do not become homeless.

The public will cover the Eaton Fire costs either way.
The question is who is forced to cover the cash-flow burden in the meantime.

Right now, that burden is falling entirely on displaced families.

EFSN family standing together outdoors, including two children, in front of a colorful mural

What We Are Asking Edison To Do

Advance up to $200,000 per household — an advance against what Edison will already owe, not new compensation — so families do not become homeless.

  • A bridge, not a handout. An advance against future settlements.

  • For both renters and homeowners. Every displaced family deserves stability.

  • For verified costs. Temporary housing, testing, remediation, storage, utilities, etc.

  • Without waivers. A roof overhead should never come with a demand to surrender your rights.

  • Reimbursable. Edison can recover costs later through the Wildfire Fund.

Nothing in California law prevents Edison from taking these steps.

Edison would never pay a dollar for this program. Under the state-approved bailout, all costs are reimbursed through the Wildfire Fund or, if needed, borne by ratepayers. Housing costs are advanced in small amounts over time, reimbursed as settlements are paid, and held only temporarily. All program administration costs are fully reimbursable as well.

Read the Urgent Housing Relief Proposal
Join the Coalition
Woman smiling outdoors, wearing a white crocheted top

Every Other Utility Has Done This. Only Edison Has Not.

Every other California investor-owned utility has advanced emergency relief to fire survivors.

PG&E did it.
SDG&E did it.

They did so before the Wildfire Fund existed and without guaranteed reimbursement.

Edison is the only California investor-owned utility refusing to act, despite now being protected by a state-created fund expressly designed to reimburse eligible wildfire costs.

See the precedent and policy rationale
Andrew holding a young child outdoors under a cloudy sky

Housing Relief Must Be Separate From Legal Settlements

Urgent housing relief and legal settlements serve different purposes.

  • Housing relief keeps families stably housed

  • Settlements resolve long-term damages and liability

When housing assistance is tied to legal releases, families are forced to make irreversible decisions while under acute financial pressure. That undermines informed consent and slows recovery.

The proposed structure:

  • Stabilizes families first

  • Preserves legal rights

  • Protects the integrity of future settlements

Read How This Protects Survivors and the Public

A Historic Coalition Is Leading This Call

This effort is led by one of the broadest survivor-led coalitions built after a California fire:

  • Every Fire Survivor’s Network – representing 10,000+ survivors

  • Eaton Fire Collaborative Leadership Council – 200+ nonprofit organizations

  • Clergy Community Coalition – 150+ faith leaders across Altadena and Pasadena

  • Altadena Town Council – representing 40,000+ residents

The California Community Foundation is an early endorser, underscoring the risk prolonged displacement poses to long-term recovery.

Clergy Community Coalition
Coalition for a Safe Fire Recovery
Collaborate PASadena
Community Compound
Consumer Watchdog
CORE: Community Organized Relief Effort Day One
Dena Rise Up Coalition
Door of Hope
Eaton Fire Collaborative Leadership Council
Eaton Fire Residents United
Every Fire Survivor’s Network
Epicentre Church
Evolve Altadena
Giant Steps Community Programs. HPP Cares Rebuild Center

Altadena Builds Back Foundation
Altadena CoLab 
Altadena Earthseed Community Land Trust 
Altadena Girls
Altadena Rising
Altadena Tenants Union
Altadena Town Council
Altagether
Black Freedom Fund
Boys & Girls Club of Malibu 
Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena
Buildnotes
California Community Foundation
CHIRLA

Organizations Standing With Survivors

More joining weekly.

Leap of Faith
Lifeline Fellowship
Making Housing and Community Happen
My TRIBE Rise
NDLON
Pasadena NAACP
Project Passion
Reclaim Our Power
Resilient Palisades
Shared Harvest Foundation 
St. Vincent de Paul – St. Elizabeth Conference
Stars: Illuminate, Educate, Advocate
Surviving Structures - EF Recovery
The Foothill Catalog Foundation
YWCA of San Gabriel Valley

Join the Coalition as an Individual or Organization
Woman wearing an 'Altadena California' sweatshirt, standing outdoors with others

Why This Matters Beyond the Eaton Fire

This is not only about one disaster.

When corporations cause harm and delay paying what they owe, recovery slows, displacement spreads, and public costs rise. That pattern affects every Californian living in fire-prone regions.

Holding Edison accountable means:

  • Preventing mass displacement

  • Protecting ratepayers

  • Ensuring recovery remains possible after disaster

Every month without relief makes recovery harder and more expensive.

Read the proposal. Add your name. Keep families housed.

Read the Proposal
Add Your Name

Stand with survivors. Add your name.

Add your name to show public support for Eaton Fire survivors and call on Edison to do the right thing. We’ll keep you updated as this effort moves forward.

Individuals
Enter your name and email.
You can also add an optional message to Edison’s CEO.

Organizations
Please include your title and organization so we can list your endorsement accurately.
We’ll keep your organization informed as this campaign grows.

Two women embracing warmly outdoors

Survivors share what life looks like nearly one year after the fire

  • “My husband tried to put out spot fires in our yard as flying embers spread. We lost everything when our small apartment building burned down. Since then, we’ve been living in a tiny studio with no kitchen. We cannot move at this point, because of my husband's health, so we're here until February 2026 in hopes that his health improves. He's been hospitalized four times since Jan. 7-8.”

  • “Our whole town was wiped out, our entire lives were upended by the fire, our mental health continues to suffer, we continue to pay out of pocket for fire-related expenses, and we have literally no recourse. Edison caused this fire, and should be liable for all of the damage.”

  • "Lost 95% of everything I owned, and my dog died in a Pasadena hotel room during the evacuation. My health has been compromised as a result of breathing contaminated fire-related air, including a collapsed lung. "

  • “The expense of this ordeal, emotionally and financially, has impacted our family so much that my daughter may have to put college on hold. We may have to walk away from our home of 25 years flushing our equity down the drain because it’s not safe to live in. And finally the impact that it’s had on my mental health and my marriage. I’m not sure my husband and I will see our way through this together.”

  • “My escrow company won’t release funds for our rebuild. We started rebuilding as soon as possible so we don’t have to keep paying a mortgage and a rent. We already lost everything and now it’s so hard to move on with our lives.”

  • “Had to put my own home remediation on hold to help my 80+ year old parents who lost their home.”

  • “Nothing is happening yet with our rebuild. Fighting with mortgage company. Waiting for our remaining 25% personal property loss payment. Insurance adjuster starting to ghost us.“

  • “We had to come back after 7 days because my renter's insurance wouldn't cover any more days. We came back to the fire actively burning, toxic ash all over our neighborhood.”

  • “My dog got sick after being exposed to the toxic ash all over our neighborhood. I saw him sitting in it and there was nothing I could do but try to brush him off. I am heartbroken and suffering from extreme grief. I was supposed to pick up his ashes today, but I couldn’t get out of the house.”

  • “My home in West Altadena was the only home my child has ever known. We are eager to rebuild and move back, but need to remediate the soil and replant natural spaces, not just build a structure. Our insurance isn’t sufficient for any of these needs.”

  • “This SCE-caused fire catastrophe not only took our home and everything we had collected in 30 years of marriage — all our family photos and memories — but it also took away the last precious time I could have had with my husband before he died on July 17. Their negligence destroyed lives, and mine will never be the same.”

  • “The Eaton Fire devastated me both physically and emotionally. My nerves will never be the same. I lost things that money cannot replace. The least Edison can do is, give each of us a respectable compensation package. And, not add insult to our pain and suffering.”

  • “The most significant loss for me, more than my personal property, family heirlooms, my art studio, and my lifetime art archive, is the loss of affordable housing. On paper, my day job looks like I make a decent living. In reality, the current rental rates for anything comparable to what I had, would mean I'd pay more than 50% of my take-home pay just to put a roof over my head. This is untenable financially.”

  • “After 35 years, our home was totally destroyed in the Eaton fire. It's been a steep learning curve to navigate all requirements of a rebuild. So, stress & anxiety are a daily companion. We ask ourselves, "are we doing everything right?" & mostly, "can we affprd the rebuild at today's high cost of construction?"“

  • “We are still displaced renters from Altadena. Landlord never showed up and cleaned, remediated but demanded rent this whole time. I got sued by him couple times but all these cases dismissed by judges for now. 10 months of struggle all because of Edison not taking care of their business as a huge corporation with huge budget but big greed.”

  • “My house is one of 4 on a block that did not burn; I can’t say survived because it is uninhabitable and full of contaminants and toxins. All houses on all sides of me burnt. The insurance has been stalling and not wanting to declare it a total loss. We have to fight for everything. We hope to get enough to cover a rebuild but it hasn’t been easy.”

  • “We bought our home in Altadena and spent over $250,000 improving it, finishing renovations and gardens in December 2024 — it was meant to be our forever home in retirement. The damage and trauma of the past ten months have been immense, and the memories we lost can never truly be replaced.”

  • “I had only lived in my Altadena home for four months before the fire, and because of a bad insurance broker, I’m short at least $500,000 in coverage. I lost everything and am now stuck trying to sell my lot and find a new home, moving from one temporary apartment to another while the reality of what’s gone hits me every day.”

  • “We’re still displaced from our smoke-damaged home nine months after the fire. Our 4- and 9-year-old daughters lost everything to lead contamination, and as State Farm continues to delay, we’re exhausted, grief-stricken, and desperate to get back home.”

  • “We lost our Altadena home after living there for over 40 years. Now in our seventies, we’re staying with family, traveling seven hours each way for doctor visits, coping with PTSD and depression, and trying to rebuild with an insurance payout that covers only half of what we need — SCE’s help would truly be a godsend.”

  • “Living in my home but have tested high for lead and other heavy metals. Getting abatement estimates. Insurance (CFP) says it will not cover. I have been living here since the fire. My health and well being are at risk. I am depressed. My friends are all out of the area.”

  • “While our house survived, it was contaminated with lead, soot, ash, and char. Ten months later, 95% of our belongings are gone, Mercury Insurance still refuses to pay for full cleanup, and we’re facing water and mold damage — we’re still a long way from getting back home.”

  • "Our apartment burned. The smoke and stress worsened my husband's COPD. Now, he has severe emphysema and relies on oxygen. We’re living in a small studio without a proper kitchen, struggling to manage his health and the costs of food and medication.”

  • “This entire experience has been an absolute nightmare. & destroyed my faith in humanity. Thank you Edison for destroying my home, my inventory which was my sole source of income, killing my precious pets, and destroying my physical health and mental wellbeing! I feel hopeless and broken.”

  • “We were displaced and moved 14 times in six months before getting back home. On a fixed income, we’ve maxed out credit cards and taken on new debt. After spending over $250,000 to make our home safe again, being told we’re “ineligible” because we fall outside the DINS map adds deep insult to physical, emotional, and mental injury.”

  • “This situation has been completely devastating and challenging. We can never get back what was taken from us. We no longer have the illusion of security and are struggling to remain hopeful while dealing with the financial fall out from losing everything you owned and all the systems you believed in.”

  • “We’re barely hanging on, a fair settlement with Edison could make a huge difference.”

  • “Although our home is standing, we lost it all to lead contamination from the fire. We have 3 small children and a dog and have had to relocate 4 times! Kids lost their school in the fire. It’s nine months later and we are not back at our homes yet.”

  • “Edison’s pain and suffering payments suggested do not nearly account for residents loss of lifestyle, emotional anguish, health and lifespan impacts of long term chronic stress, ongoing impacts to employment and relationships, loss of pets, loss of irreplaceable family heirlooms, and more.”

  • “We invested $350,000 and countless hours of our personal labor over the past 5 years to remodel and update our 100 year old home, all of that investment was destroyed and wasted in a matter of hours due to nothing more than blatant negligence. We're paying a mortgage for a home that we can't live in and a community that's been leveled. They ruined our lives, almost killed us, and are offering an insult in return.”

  • “As a renter w 2 kids: We lost a house and all contents and were displaced for many months moving to every few weeks due to limited LOU from renters insurance. Our kids schools were displaced too. I believe I indirectly lost my job due to the fire and my wife was passed over for what seemed to be a guaranteed promotion.”

  • “Altadena was highly desirable before the fires. Now people fear that they will return to a toxic soup and loud, unbearable construction.”

  • “This has caused so much stress, pain, agony and we are traumatized for life. I have not been able to go home due to the smoke damage. I have moved my family including two neurodivergent children eight times since January. I am running out of insurance coverage and still displaced. Being left off of Edison’s radar is a continued slap-in-the-face.”

  • “The hardest part is the toll on my children. They freeze at the sight of an open flame, they are frightened when they see electrical transformers, and they still ask about their toys and beg to go home. This is the reality we’re living — but under Edison’s proposal, none of it is considered their responsibility.”

  • “We have been away from our house for 9 months now, experiencing delay after delay. The pain and suffering this has caused in our family, especially our son, has been enormous. I know we are going to end up with lots of out-of-pocket costs and will have to battle insurance. The lack of resources offered to us "standing home" folk is absolutely insulting.”

  • “As renters, my family and I lost everything in the Eaton Fire, not just our home, but also all personal belongings, art, furniture, jewelry, vintage fashion and a car. On top there is the added monthly cost for rental elsewhere, a new vehicle, additional insurance cost and the emotional distress and mental health. We will have to live this new reality for the rest of our lives.”

  • “As renters, my family and I lost everything in the Eaton Fire, not just our home, but also all personal belongings, art, furniture, jewelry, vintage fashion and a car. On top there is the added monthly cost for rental elsewhere, a new vehicle, additional insurance cost and the emotional distress and mental health. We will have to live this new reality for the rest of our lives.”

  • “My family lost our entire home and neighborhood in West Altadena. My son grew up there and is a teenager now and lost his entire childhood memories. We are displaced and have a diminished quality of life living out of the area as that is all we could find. We also lost our businesses...I had a studio in the garage and my husband as well.”

  • “I see our most vulnerable folks being taken advantage of with this “Fast cash” offer. Signing NDA’s & dropping further insurance claims? Who’s helping who out here?”

  • “Our youngest is struggling even more than the adults in our family. We all lost our home, all of our stuff, and some pets. He also lost his school and his 5 closest friends have all moved away. His belief that we can keep him safe is gone. It may be a lifetime of struggle to overcome.”

  • “I was affected greatly, even though the condo I rented was not burned. My work, my home, my money, my emotional toll was vast and I can't believe I'm not included. As an artist, having a stable place to make art is a huge part of my work and affects my ability to make money.”

  • “My girlfriend finally paid off her car and she had to get a new one and is making payment on that now. Also would like to see a higher payout for pain and suffering because that shit was traumatic as fuck. We had to move 5 times in the span of 3 months before moving into a much smaller place.”

  • “I'm a senior (aged 70). I was all set to retire, but due to increased expenses and having to Airbnb hop, I still have to work, in addition to the work of all the paperwork requirements by insurance and every aid agency. I am so, so very tired. Missed all my vacation plans for July. Already had an ER visit due to stress.”

  • “My daughter is 8, she also lost her school. Her community anchors evaporated overnight. Still, daily she will lament over the fact that she has no belongings from “before the fire”, that everything she has now is either second hand, given/donated or new. Her emotional losses are even more traumatic than an adult’s as she doesn’t yet have all the coping mechanisms and level of understanding.”

  • “This experience has certainly been traumatic for me, but I think my children suffered more. One of them underwent a complete personality change from outgoing and bubbly to totally withdrawn. The other developed a drug problem.”

  • “Due to this disaster we will be forced to go into our hard earned savings and retirement to rebuild our home. I was planning on retiring in 2025 no way now. I certainly did not expect to be completely rebuilding a new home. A home that we have owned for 29 years. I am now 66 years old.”

Share Your Story

Grow the coalition

Here’s a suggested post and images you can use on socials.

Nearly after the Eaton Fire, most families are still displaced and running out of housing coverage. I’ve joined the civic coalition urging Edison to front urgent housing relief now. Add your name: edisonrelief.org

#EdisonReliefNow #KeepFamiliesHoused #StandWithSurvivors

Edison is protected. The public will pay these costs either way.

The only question is whether families are forced to carry the cash-flow burden alone while recovery takes years.

Read the Proposal
Add Your Name